HISTOCHEMICAL STUDIES ON GLYCOSIDASES OF THE RAT OVARY AND PLACENTA

Abstract

In the rat ovary and placenta the distribution of β-glucuronidase and β-galactosidase activities shown by the 6-bromo-2-naphthol post-coupling methods differs markedly from the distribution of β-glucuronidase activity which is indicated by the Fishman-Baker ferric hydroxyquinoline technique. In the ovary the intense reactions in interstitial cells and luteal cells with the post-coupling methods may be partly due to diffusion of intermediate reaction product. In the placenta a distribution is indicated for both glycosidases which is similar to the distribution pattern of acid phosphatase and organophosphate-resistant esterase. It is unlikely that the granular reactions obtained in some situations with the post-coupling methods can be regarded as an exact cytological localization of enzyme activity. The simultaneous coupling method for acetylglucosaminidase shows strong reactions in ovarian macrophages and atretic follicles, with weaker activity in corpora lutea, interstitial cells, and theca interna. In the placenta the visceral endoderm and decidua are strongly reactive, with weaker activity in the metrial gland and trophoblast. In some situations the reaction product is deposited in granular from, probably on the surface of lysosomal particles.